Alan Gerber and Michael Wagner

2013 Hawksbill Award Recipients

We are honored to recognize Michael E. Wagner and Alan R. Gerber as joint recipients of the 2013 PATC Hawksbill Award for outstanding commitment and performance supporting maintenance of the Appalachian Trail in the South District of Shenandoah National Park.

Al Gerber & Mike Wagner

Michael E. Wagner and Alan R. Gerber began their service as Appalachian Trail overseers on January 1, 1982. For 31 continuous years, Michael and Alan have maintained two sections of the A.T. in the South District of Shenandoah National Park—maintaining a total of 6.6 miles of the Trail from Browns Gap to Riprap Trail Parking Area.

Mike and Al do not simply go out separately to work on their A.T. sections. During their tenure, they consistently meet and work their assigned sections in tandem. This partnership endures to the present, a remarkable achievement in itself.

There is nothing flashy or spectacular about their work. Instead, the consistent thing is the absence of complaints about their work. When I served as Supervisor of Trails, the A.T. District Manager in the South District, Larry Linebrink, often commented on the fact that he could always count on the good work done by Mike and Al.

It is a great pleasure to recognize Michael and Al for their work and commitment.